Alex Semin, the System Smasher

Last night's 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils demonstrated more than ever that Alex Semin is incapable of adhering to Bruce Boudreau's system. The coach was diplomatic about it after the game, but it was plainly obvious that he saw more than he let on during his post-game press conference.

"Mike's [Knuble] a professional, a real pro, and he's started out really good. I thought that he played a solid game," Boudreau said. "I thought that the other line struggled a little bit with the switch with Semin, [Brendan] Morrison and [Brooks] Laich, I think they were on for both of their goals, so we’ve got to find a switch that works for everybody."

What Boudreau could have said was that Alex Ovechkin played a better game with Knuble and Backstrom than he did when Semin was on the top line. In fact, the numbers prove it: the Caps gave up more shots with Semin-Backstrom-Ovechkin on the ice.

The reason the second line wasn't working well last night was because Semin played as if he was trying out for the Harlem Globetrotters. Every time he got the puck, he would skate around looking for a shot or fancy play instead of trying to pass and be a good teammate. That doesn't work for any team, let alone for the hardworking Caps.

And it's not like this is a newsflash with Semin, who makes $5 million this season (T-3rd on the team) and is a restricted free agent after the season. There's been talk about an extension for Backstrom, and for good reason: he continues to get it and play better every game.

Semin doesn't change. He feels his skill will overwhelm anybody and everybody who watches. When he and Ovechkin are on the ice, it's "anything you can do, I can do better," but it should be "let's win it for the team." When Ovechkin plays with Knuble and Backstrom, Ovie steps up his game and is a good teammate.

Semin tries to do everything himself if he's playing with anybody except Ovechkin. The reason the second line doesn't work is because of Semin, who might just be a slightly more skilled version of Miroslav Satan or Maxim Afinogenov. Like his fellow Russians Europeans, Semin can disappear for games on end or dominate at the drop of a hat.

Last season, Semin scored four goals in December and January after notching more than that in the season's first five games. His career high for goals in a season is 38, set during the 2006-07 season. He notched 79 points last season, a career high.

If I'm the Caps, though, I'm looking to trade Semin for somebody -- maybe even Ilya Kovalchuk, another friend of Ovechkin's. You say the Caps can't afford it? Take away Semin's $5 million and Michael Nylander's $5.5 million and that's more than enough for a player who has scored 189 goals over the last four seasons (compared to Semin's 108).

If you put Kovy with Morrison and Laich, he'll easily stay up-to-snuff and make the Caps' power play even better than it is now. Yes, it's a high-priced gamble (because no doubt the Thrashers will ask for a stud along with Semin), but it's clearly worth the risk.

There's no doubt about Semin's skill, but the problems reside in his head. The bottom line is that, unless Semin has a huge change of heart over the next couple weeks, this will be a problem until he is sent away -- which, in my opinion, is the best resolution to dealing with the only offensive player on the roster who doesn't understand that being selflessness is just as (and maybe more) important than skill in winning a Stanley Cup.